Month: September 2007

Liverpool 6 Derby County 0

In the years since Kenny Dalglish left Anfield, Liverpool fans have been clamouring for a 19th league title, but to no avail. It’s still way to early to talk with too much confidence about the chances of it happening this year, but so far the signs are pretty good. One of the signs is that Liverpool aren’t dropping points or leaving fans anxiously waiting for them to scrap out a win in games like today’s.

Derby County were newly-promoted this season, and as such are one of those games that on paper Liverpool should win convincingly, but in past years under Souness, Evans, Houllier and even Benitez, they would stumble in. Today it was a 6-0 win, could have been more, and the gulf between the two teams was obvious. Continue reading Prem: Liverpool 6 Derby 0

Liverpool lead 2-0 at half-time against Derby with Ryan Babel scoring his first goal for Liverpool. The Dutchman, signed for £11.5m in the summer, was fed by Alvaro Arbeloa and left two defenders for dead as he switched feet and hit the ball from the edge of the area. Xabi Alonso had opened the scoring earlier, hitting a free-kick from around 40 yards which the goalkeeper seemed to misjudge.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has picked a strong side to face Derby County at Anfield this afternoon. With Jamie Carragher missing from the defence, Sami Hyypia gets to start again alongside Daniel Agger; Alvaro Arbeloa gets the nod at left-back ahead of Riise who’s on the bench. No Steven Gerrard, also injured, so Alonso and Mascherano are chosen to start, flanked by Ryan Babel and Jermaine Pennant. Kuyt and Torres are up front, with Andriy Voronin on the bench.

No place in the 16 for Peter Crouch again, but now the transfer window is closed the speculation about what that means might be a little quieter.

Today’s game is the last for Liverpool for two weeks, with internationals taking place in-between.